The Master of Public Affairs program is an interdisciplinary, professional program that prepares students for positions in local, state, or federal government, quasi-governmental service, or the nonprofit (including philanthropic) arena. It broadens students’ comprehension of the economic, environmental, political, and social context in which the public servant works. The course of study requires completion of (1) the
M.P.A. core, (2) the concentration requirement,
(3) the experiential requirement, and (4) sufficient electives and/or mid-career option credit to total 48 credit hours.

The curriculum of this program as contained in the core requirements encompasses preparation in a broad range of skills relevant to the operation of public agencies. It is based on the academic disciplines but not limited to any one. It is also problem-oriented, bringing the disciplines to bear on critical social, environmental, economic, and administrative issues.

Although the environment of public service is diverse and changing, effectiveness in that environment requires the development of special skills attained through detailed study in a chosen field of concentration. The fields of concentration span the variety of professional specialties found in public service. Thus, the program provides expertise in the core requirements and a specific concentration area, as well as a general working knowledge of public affairs.

The M.P.A. program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Before enrolling in the M.P.A. program, students must show proficiency in the foundation areas of computing, economics, government, mathematics, and statistics to facilitate mastery of core course material. Graduate credit is not given for work done to satisfy these undergraduate requirements. Students required to take SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs will receive credit for work done in this graduate course.

The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 18 credit hours of work in six courses. Each student must also complete the requirements of (at least) one concentration. Students may also be required to take SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs.

The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.P.A. program has gained insight into the world of public service by way of an experience outside the classroom. This experience may or may not involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. The remaining credit hours necessary for graduation, if any, are general electives that can be used to add breadth to a student’s program; to further explore a field of concentration; or to enhance skills in foreign languages, quantitative tools, or administrative techniques.

The M.P.A. core is designed to ensure that each student acquires both the prerequisite analytical skills and an understanding of policy issues and governmental processes that compose the environment within which graduates will pursue their careers.

Extremely well-prepared applicants may petition the campus director to waive one or more of the core requirements on the basis of advanced course work done elsewhere. Students may be exempted on the basis of satisfactory equivalent course work or by examination. Credit hours waived from the core add to the electives a student may use. Students requesting course waivers should contact the appropriate campus director for requirements and guidelines.

Concentrations give students educational experiences in a substantive area of interest. The course of study in each concentration area is determined in conjunction with an advisor. Up to 3 credit hours of the concentration may be taken in SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs, if approved in advance by an advisor.

Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. Consult with an advisor about course prerequisites.

Each M.P.A. student must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options: an approved internship (0-6 credit hours); SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs; SPEA-V 601 Workshop in Public Affairs; the Environmental Fellowship Program; or the Mid-Career Credit Option.

The Graduate Admissions Committee of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs may grant up to 12 credit hours toward the M.P.A. degree for students who have had significant technical, administrative, or policy-level work experience in their backgrounds. Credit will be granted for work experience gained until the end of the semester in which the student completes 24 credit hours according to the following guidelines:

To receive 3 credit hours, a student must have a minimum of one year’s technical, administrative, or policy-level work experience with a government or private agency.

6 credit hours will be awarded for one to four years of managerial experience in directing programs, preparing budgets, and making decisions on organizational or staff development, or for one to four years of professional experience in policy analysis or planning.

Those with four or more years of executive assignment may be awarded 9 to 12 credit hours. Applicants must have had responsibility for supervision of high-level staff, budget preparation, and organizational control of public agencies, or executive responsibility for policy analysis or planning.

Application Process and Policies
Students are eligible to apply for mid-career credit at the time of application. Applicants may appeal the initial mid-career credit decision by submitting a request, in writing, for reconsideration and providing additional information to the campus director.

Determination of mid-career credit is made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the mid-career credit and transfer credit total more than 21 credit hours of the 48 required for the M.P.A. degree. Students receiving mid-career credit should carefully plan the balance of their program with an advisor.

Concentrations give the student a focused educational experience in a substantive area of interest. The concentration is selected in conjunction with the faculty advisor and appropriate SPEA administrator. Concentrations offered on the Northwest campus are:

The criminal justice concentration is for those interested in the issues, methods, and skills involved in the management of criminal justice or related agencies. Students are required to take a minimum of 9 “J” credit hours for this concentration.

The health services administration concentration
is primarily for practitioners in the health care
field, either in clinical or management areas, who
desire additional education for career
management and advancement, and also for the
preservice individual seeking to enter the field of
health care administration.

The human services administration
concentration prepares persons for management
positions in federal, state, local, and nonprofit
human service agencies. Emphases include
application of public management processes to
human services organizations; skills requisite to
working with elected officials, administrative
officials, and consumer groups; and practices of
comprehensive departments of human
resources, interagency administrative units, and
multiservice centers.

The public management concentration is a structured program that enables students to develop a managerial perspective. The curriculum ensures breadth of coverage across those areas essential to a managerial career.

Students enrolled in a certificate program must complete it within 15 credit hours of approved SPEA course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B). Failure to do so results in automatic dismissal from the certificate program.

Students who have completed more than three SPEA courses are not eligible for admission to a certificate program.

Transfer credit, course substitutions, or course waivers are not accepted for meeting the Environmental Affairs, Public Management, or Nonprofit Management certificate requirements.

Students admitted to a SPEA graduate degree program are not eligible for admission to the certificate program or eligible for the awarding of a certificate.

Admission to or successful completion of a certificate program does not guarantee subsequent admission to a SPEA graduate degree program.

Students enrolled in the certificate program who apply to SPEA’s graduate degree programs must meet all existing admission requirements.

Students planning to request admission to a SPEA graduate degree program after successfully completing a certificate program should refer to the application procedure presented earlier in this bulletin.

The Certificate in Environmental Affairs is a 15 credit hour program of study in environmental affairs. The program is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of precareer or inservice persons and to individuals with varying degrees of experience. Individuals currently employed in industry, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector in environmentally related positions who have technical backgrounds but who seek greater insight and formal education on economic, policy, and legal issues related to the critical environmental issues will find the program particularly beneficial.

The Certificate in Nonprofit Management is a 15 credit hour program of study. The certificate is designed to serve the needs of individuals who would like exposure to the nonprofit sector and nonprofit management issues but who do not wish or need to pursue a degree in nonprofit management. The certificate complements other courses of study or career experience in such areas as social work, library science, and parks and recreation. Students pursuing a nonprofit management certificate gain an understanding of how to work in and with nonprofit organizations.

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate courses are selected with the approval of the student’s advisor. A sampling of current course titles includes Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, Ethics and Values of Philanthropy, Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations, Public Relations in Nonprofits, and History of Philanthropy in the West.

Students interested in continuing for the Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) should consider selecting the electives from the nonprofit management concentration.

The Certificate in Public Management program is a 15 credit hour program of study in public management. The certificate program is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of precareer and inservice individuals. Graduate students in other disciplines can use the program to supplement their primary fields with course work in public management, possibly using the certificate courses as part or all of a doctoral or master’s degree minor. Career employees of public and private sector agencies seeking courses in public management, and especially those changing from professional or technical roles to managerial roles, find the certificate program beneficial.

Certificate Requirements

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs
courses approved by the program director.

Note: Students interested in continuing on for
the Master of Public Affairs degree should
consider selecting the two elective courses from
the M.P.A. core; one of the courses
recommended is V 506 Statistical Analysis for
Effective Decision Making. These courses may
also be applied to the Master of Planning upon
admission to the M.Pl. program.